58 Chapter 58
◎Two chapters in one◎
The King of Wei died in his prime, but his death was not very dignified. He was killed by robbers. His death instantly made the entire Wei area leaderless. After Li Cheng occupied Yuzhou, he heard the news and left Guo Zhao, the General of Jianwei, behind, and prepared to go to Jianye. But when he was about to leave, he said to his confidant beside him: "You take two teams of people and pick up the princess. I will wait for her at the ferry."
But Huiyin had just sent away the three members of the Yin family who had hurried back to attend the funeral. The official ship was not that fast, so a merchant ship was requisitioned for them. The three men left in a hurry without saying anything.
She had just taken a break and was thinking about writing a letter to ask Li Cheng what to do. Logically, she should go over, but things were different now. She had to listen to Li Cheng's instructions, but she also had to prepare the funeral.
Besides, when the King of Wei left, Xie Jiuyi was still fighting on the front line. Would he retreat? These questions also made her think a lot.
Unexpectedly, Li Cheng sent someone to take her there. Huiyin had someone hurriedly take her two sons away, and left in plain clothes without even having time to prepare the luggage.
The eldest son Jing'er is fine, he has always been in good health. But the youngest son is only a few months old and is still in swaddling clothes, so he needs to be paid more attention.
After only two hours' drive, they met Li Cheng. Before the couple had time to express their sadness of separation, Li Cheng pulled her into the house to talk.
"Uncle Wei has passed away. Do you know about this?"
Huiyin nodded, "At dawn today, the three members of the Yin family went back to attend the funeral. They didn't even have time to have a cup of hot tea or a meal. How could I not know?"
Li Cheng certainly had advisers to discuss things with, but those advisers and subordinates also had their own little thoughts. Most of them were afraid of taking responsibility or instigating him to fight for power. He and Huiyin were a couple, and his wife was not an ignorant woman, but had always been knowledgeable, so he wanted to discuss things with Huiyin first.
Therefore, he said directly without beating around the bush: "You know that Uncle King Wei has treated me well over the years. I cannot refuse this favor." Although he brought his troops to surrender, he was too young and had no idea what to do. However, when he attacked Xuzhou, the money and food were all given by the King of Wei.
Huiyin nodded: "That's what I said, too. You are his nephew. Now that he has passed away, the court is too busy to take care of itself and can no longer be relied upon. The two sons of the King of Wei are still young, so you have to take care of them."
"That's not what I want to say. It's easy to deal with funerals. I've dealt with funerals for my parents several times. What I think is that although my uncle, the Prince of Wei, has not treated me badly, he has not been very good to me. All the good and fertile lands were given to the concubine's family, and even the Huo, Yin and Xu families have high positions and generous salaries. I know Xie Jiuyi, he is the most loyal person. I'm afraid that after my uncle passes away, he will follow our example and be loyal to Li Jing, but I don't want that." Li Cheng was in a conflicted mood.
Huiyin understood immediately. In fact, if it was Zheng Fang, he would probably just take advantage of the situation, regardless of whether he was his nephew or not, without thinking about the consequences. He would think ahead and not care about the consequences. It was precisely because Li Cheng had ambitions that he did not want to be too aggressive in this matter.
But it's a good thing after all. Huiyin smiled and said, "If you ask me, you don't want to submit to Li Cheng, then that's fine. If we confront each other head-on now, it will help others unite. Xie Jiuyi loves to serve Li Jing as his lord, and you can just establish your own family. Without the King of Wei, you now have Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and the south of Qingzhou. You are considered to have a strong army and horses, so naturally people will come to you."
She understood what Li Cheng meant. Li Cheng did not want to occupy it directly. Firstly, it would be ungrateful to the old subordinates of King Wei, and people all over the world would laugh at him. Secondly, Li Cheng had just taken over Yuzhou after all, and the soldiers had just finished fighting. If he clashed with the old subordinates of King Wei again, he might lose his wife and his soldiers.
In this case, it is better not to participate at all.
However, it is clear that Li Cheng is not that noble: "My father passed away when I was only thirteen years old. My uncle the King of Wei said he would take over the land for me. Now that he is dead, it is time for my father's fief to be taken back."
Huiyin praised: "Okay."
After he had discussed it with Huiyin, he went out to discuss it with the counselors, insisting that he was only going there to attend the funeral and that they were not allowed to cause unrest or be provoked by others to cause trouble. However, his subordinates praised him for being kind and righteous.
Li Cheng did not want a reputation of benevolence and righteousness. He just wanted to accumulate his strength step by step and occupy his own territory.
The speedboat they took reached Jianye in two days. Huiyin first had Jing'er and Zhan'er taken back to the palace. Li Cheng was worried that his sons might be held hostage, so he sent one team of elite soldiers to go back quietly, one team in the open and one team in secret.
It is also said that the once glorious Prince Wei's Palace was still filled with carriages and horses outside, but the shiny red gate was hung with colorful white banners. People looked good outside, but once they entered the gate, they could hear mournful sounds one after another.
The one who came to pick up Li Cheng and Huiyin was the maidservant beside Princess Wei. The old maid wiped her tears and said, "When the prince leaves, the whole family will be left alone. We all rely on the young prince."
Huiyin thought to herself, you guys are really good at calculating. You're leaving the difficult things to Li Cheng, and letting him offend people. That's not enough. Li Cheng just listened and agreed very well, but asked carefully: "Now that the body of Uncle Wei has just been sent back? What are you going to do, auntie?"
Sure enough, the nanny said, "Our Princess Wei is at a loss. The prince died suddenly and at a young age. The coffin was sent by the Huo family. The old uncle of the Guo family also helped with the welcoming and seeing off. But you are the backbone, and we have to listen to you."
Li Cheng sighed slightly.
It was also said that Li Cheng cried so hard that he prostrated himself on the ground in front of the mourning hall. Huiyin did not expect him to be so emotional. She thought she could cry quite well. Every time she thought of some sad things, her eyes would turn red. Dadouer's tears flowed down, but today she was lucky to have met a husband who was both a good singer and a good reciter.
Li Cheng was not like Huiyin who was shedding a few tears and wiping them with a handkerchief. He was really crying and saying, "My dear Uncle Wang, you left in such a hurry that you didn't let me, your nephew, see you. When you were alive, you were so good to me. Now you are left with your aunt, brothers and a whole family. You should not have left so hastily on the bridge..."
Huiyin's face turned slightly red when she heard this. She looked up and glanced at the Princess of Wei and the two concubines. The Princess of Wei just kept burning incense in front of the coffin. In any funeral, the incense in front of the coffin must not stop. Concubine Yin held Li Jing tightly in her hand. On the other side, Concubine Xu was really sad. She cried so hard that even the white flowers on her hair fell into the ash basin for burning paper. A person who was so clean on weekdays actually didn't care about many things.
The King of Wei had a son who was about one or two years old and still ignorant. Because of a gust of wind, his wet nurse hurriedly took the son away.
Huiyin thought that Li Cheng was actually dead in her previous life. If she were in his shoes, how sad would she be if her husband died, and he was such a good husband to her? Even if she was not smart and could not do it, Li Cheng would respect her and consummate the marriage with her even if he was injured. Thinking of this, she was also sad and cried.
Her crying confused Li Cheng. You know, the number of times his wife had met the King of Wei could be counted on one hand. She cried so sadly that people who didn't know would think he was dead.
Before Li Cheng and his wife came in, the mourning hall had already calmed down for a while. The wives and concubines of the King of Wei were sad, but they were mostly worried about their own futures. What would they do if their husbands died? Those who had sons, such as Yin Lifang, still had hope, but the other concubines were just there to show up.
Now that Li Cheng and his wife were in mourning, they were forced to cry miserably in the cold wind.
After Li Cheng finished crying, he talked to Princess Wei for a while: "Auntie, now that my uncle has passed away, have you reported it to the court? Where is the chief historian?"
He was the only one present who could ask this question. Although the King of Wei was closer to the Guo and Huo families, he was the only one who was a member of the royal family and a prince, so he had the highest status here.
Princess Wei was also from a rich family, so she understood all this. When Li Cheng asked, she said, "We have asked the chief secretary to write a memorial, but with war raging everywhere, how can we send it to the capital?"
In fact, she felt that it didn't matter whether she sent it or not. Would the Ministry of Rites send someone to inquire about it? So she just said it in an official manner.
Li Cheng said, "I came all the way from Yuzhou without stopping, hoping to help you, but now that you have arranged everything properly, I am relieved. But since we are here, your niece and I will take care of the place today, and you can take everyone to rest."
His words were very appropriate. Seeing that he was usually so handsome, his beard was unshaven and his hair was messy, he looked really exhausted. She wiped her tears and said, "Now that your uncle is gone, we are like a cage without a horse. We are all very worried."
Li Cheng did not respond at this time. Huiyin, who was listening, had to come out to comfort him, "Uncle Wang has a successor, so Auntie, there is nothing to worry about. In the past, King Wuling of Zhao inherited the throne at a young age and achieved great things."
Li Cheng wanted to laugh when he heard this. King Zhao Wuling had already brought out his talents. He knew that Li Jing was a delicate and sensitive child. Although he was studious and sensible, he did not have such courage.
If he didn't have a son, he would have to take things step by step. Assisting Li Jing would be a good option, and it would not be in vain for him to give a generous gift to Concubine Yin. He would first replace Li Jing as a director, and then gradually replace him in the future. This was his original plan.
But now he has already planned to take over Qingzhou and Yongzheng. Jianye is already in his pocket, so why should he rely on others to take it?
When Princess Wei heard Huiyin's comforting words and saw him and his wife standing together, she thought of the bravery of the King of Wei in the past and the love between her and him, and she shed countless tears.
有李澄來，魏王妃輕松多了，因為他在這裏魏王府的人就不自覺都讓他拿主意。徽音在旁覺得悲哀，明明魏王妃才是最名正言順的人，但因為她是女子，如今連魏王府的人都倒向李澄。
午膳王府送的是三碟涼菜四碟熱菜還有兩樣湯，一樣是鹹湯，一樣是甜湯。徽音盛了一碗老鴨湯給丈夫：“一來就忙了許久，先吃些東西吧。”
他倆在客房用飯，李澄拿着調羹，卻沒心情喝湯，因為謝九儀還未回來。
謝九儀沒回來，殷麗儀卻回來了，她全須全尾的回來了，顧不得回家就先來過殷麗芳這裏，還是殷麗芳說她婆母擔心，她才回去。謝老夫人問她事情，她又說她運氣好，大難不死必有後福雲雲，謝老夫人見她還是和以前那樣，倒也放了心。
随後，殷麗儀又去看了自己的一雙兒女，卻發現女兒一口一個曹姨娘，吃的桂花酪是曹姨送的，腳上穿的翹頭金絲銀履也是曹姨送的。
“你幾時和她這麽好了？”頭一次殷麗儀發現也不是所有女兒都無償愛自己的親娘的。
她女兒芳姐兒年紀比璟兒還大些，女孩兒家說話早，現下也三歲了，只道：“曹姨本來就待我好。”
殷麗儀又把她乳娘喊來問起，那乳娘早就被曹氏用錢買化了，短短幾個月，箱子裏的綢子堆的高高的，錢匣子都裝滿了，如今殷麗儀問起，她表面上嗔怪曹氏：“也不知怎地，這曹氏上回救了咱們姑娘後，咱們姑娘哭鬧，奴婢幾個怎麽哄都哄不好，偏她來就哄好了。”
“以前芳姐兒也沒這樣啊。”殷麗儀說不出的煩躁，但苦于現在沒空轄制收拾她。
對，還是外甥的事情重要，斯人已逝，魏王臨死前沒有立世子，那有嫡立嫡，無嫡立長，這是規矩。
想到這裏，她又讓乳母多看着芳姐兒，徑直去了魏王府。
她一走，幾個婆子背後蛐蛐。
“這夫人自己的兒女自己不疼，還怪人家上杆子。”
“是啊，成日家的不着家，真不知道她幹嘛的？”
衆人見說話的那個乳母之前對殷麗儀很是忠心，因為她是難民，曾經被殷麗儀救過，現在連她都忍不住說了。
那旁邊還有起哄架秧子的道：“王媽媽，你怎麽也這麽說她？”
王媽媽道：“我哪裏敢說她，不過是為姐兒鳴不平罷了。”
旁的奶媽子也鄙夷這王媽媽，覺得她肯定也被曹氏的銀錢買活了，她們只是暗地裏收錢，并不敢真的為曹氏辦什麽事，人家殷麗儀可是殷次妃的親妹子，魏王這一次，魏地就要變天了，誰得罪的起啊？
殷麗儀過來的時候，天色已晚，殷麗芳正喝着熱湯，她怕許次妃對兒子下手，所以讓兒子睡在自己的裏間，見妹妹過來了，絲毫不驚訝。
“芳姐兒和鄱哥兒都好？”
“姐姐放心一切都好。”
殷麗芳握住妹妹的手道：“你夫君也不知道何時回來？盼着他快些回來後，有他和小王爺在，敬兒絕對能名正言順的封王。”
姐妹二人又說了不少私房話。
這一夜，靈堂四面灌風，魏王妃讓人挂了兩道皮簾子，才擋住風，李澄便和徽音坐在旁邊的蒲團上守靈。
徽音晚上又吃了撥霞供，正和李澄抱怨：“我又愛吃撥霞供古董羹，偏偏吃了容易長痘子，你看我這額頭上，立馬就冒出一個痘子。”
“主要是你不愛活動，喜歡躺着，你看我以前也愛長，現在好多了。”李澄願意陪她說一些孩子氣的話。
徽音白了他一眼：“你就愛說我喜歡躺着，可是我真的很容易腰疼嘛！還有你不在家的時候，我總感覺有人坐在我的床邊，你這麽一回來，即便是在靈堂，都一點兒也不怕。”
即便被妻子嗔怪，李澄一點兒也不惱，在這裏守靈，有個人陪着，比什麽都強。
這一夜，他們夫妻作伴，到次日一早才和魏王妃告辭之後回建業的王爺府。吳太妃卻沒有徽音想象中這麽傷心，她甚至還和李澄道：“你魏王叔這麽一去，留下孤兒寡母不頂事，現在皇上也管不了了，還不如你去管。”
李澄聽了搖頭：“祖母，郭家的幾個兄弟帶着兵馬守着要道，魏王之前的僚屬都是本地士族，看起來這些人都開始防備我了。”
吳太妃冷笑：“這關他們什麽事兒啊，魏王已經去世了，他兒子還那麽小，能管好封地嗎？再怎麽說，這天下還姓李呢。”
“那孫兒也不能乘人之危啊。”李澄多說了幾遍把自己都說信了。
吳太妃感嘆：“你就是太仁義了。”
她對李澄這般剖心肝，對徽音就不那麽客氣了：“你那小子聽說哭了一夜，還不回去看看。”
徽音一聽瞻兒哭了，又趕忙過去看，好在是因為乳母受寒，孩子吃了她的奶也有些不大舒服。她先讓乳母下去治病，病好了再過來，又檢查其她乳母，讓大夫一個一個把脈，見她們身子都沒問題，才放心。
點了點兒子的小鼻子：“你呀，差點吓死娘了。”
索性，她就在瞻兒的耳房歇了半晌，見瞻兒額頭不發熱，吃奶也正常才回房。
怎麽說呢？若是不生孩子倒也罷了，若生了必定要對孩子負責。
回來時，李澄都已經歇下了，睡的很熟，手裏握着她貼身的汗巾子。她替他攏了一下被子，又到裏側睡下。
但這日過後，都只需早去晚歸就行倒是不必日日都去，李澄想等七七之後就把人下葬。頭七之後徽音就不必日日去魏王府了，吳太妃就去過一次，她是上了年紀的人，最是忌諱死。
老人們都出乎意料的淡定，魏太妃雖然也傷心，但身強體健，反倒是蒹葭生病了，徽音還打發人去看了，送了幾碟她素日愛吃的點心。
南媽媽回來回話時道：“大郡主傷心極了，也不知道衛家會不會派人過來？”
徽音笑道：“他們恐怕還在觀望中，聯姻的意義是兩邊聯合起來，顯然魏王一去，現在局勢不明。”
“也就是咱們家王爺仗義，這次魏王府辦喪事，給咱們的是什麽酒水，連我這樣的下人都覺得席面差。”南媽媽啧道。
現在并非李澄仁義，而是他的兵力還要分在豫州，徐州青州的人都已經是募過一次兵了，實力有限，李澄這叫務實，随便占了土地，立馬又要打仗，還遭到群攻，這叫貪婪太過。就像他爹貿然吞并西洲京中的勢力，現在反而造成嘩變，還是退回冀州，但是兵馬損傷。
不過，魏王府的席面的确一般，正所謂內行看門道，徽音也算是當過主母數年了，那些盤子看着大，菜色卻很一般，都是下等貨。
那鮑魚個頭忒小，甲魚也不是新鮮的，更別提扣肉柴，一點都不軟滑可口。正說着，見李澄進來了，他道：“謝九儀占據了南郡，匆匆趕回來奔喪。”
“馬上七七就要過了，他這個時候回來，正好。”徽音道。
這謝九儀果然有幾把刷子，之前是被李珩放毒箭害了，包括李珩後來聽聞也是種毒箭，不知道是不是李珩搞出來的。
謝九儀是懷着悲痛打的趙鴻等人，衛家也正好派人憑吊，此時李澄帶着徽音一起過來了。許次妃的兄長任副将，他正慷慨陳詞：“魏王曾經與我提起要封二哥兒為世子，這是魏王手書，你們且看。”
許次妃之前哭的肝腸寸斷，大家都以為她是因為靠山倒了，所以哭的這麽傷心，有下人還來看笑話，沒想法魏王居然留下這一手。
這種場合女子都是很少有發言權的，即便是魏王妃，她心中更中意殷次妃的兒子李敬，此時也要聽之任之，頂多在謝九儀詢問的時候，她說幾句。
徽音看着殷次妃臉色微微發白，她低頭呷了一口茶。
殷麗芳怕自己自亂陣腳，只得努力穩住，又聽外面謝九儀道：“自古有嫡立嫡，無嫡立長，大王子是長子，理應繼承爵位。”
說罷，謝九儀自覺李澄會幫忙，還主動問了一句：“小王爺，你覺得呢？”
一聽是李澄回答，殷麗芳松了一口氣。
卻沒想到李澄道：“幾位弟弟都是我的堂弟，無論是長子繼承爵位還是王叔鐘意誰，我都沒有意見。就像謝将軍所說，立長的确順應宗法，但是現在是代替魏王叔管着整個魏地，我看總要擇賢。”
他這麽說完，許次妃眼睛一亮。
這麽一輪讨論，當然沒什麽結果，殷麗芳就找了個機會去找李澄了，這也是魏王妃安排的，她當然希望李敬做下一任魏王，許次妃以前就和她這個王妃，且殷家無依靠，還得倚仗霍家謝家。
Li Cheng originally thought that it was the Princess of Wei who came to talk about the burial of the Prince of Wei's uncle after the 49th day of mourning. During these days, he had chosen a Feng Shui treasure land for the Prince of Wei, and spent a lot of money to relocate the people around him. Of course, he had to ask the Princess of Wei for this money, but he didn't expect Yin Lifang to come in.
When Yin Lifang saw him, her eyes were filled with tears: "My dear little prince, I am honored to see you."
"No need, no need. According to seniority, you are my aunt. I came here to look for the princess' aunt. Since she is not here, I will leave." Li Cheng did not want to stay with a newly widowed woman. The Princess of Wei was the mistress, and the two of them had serious business to attend to, so he had nothing to discuss with her.
Yin Lifang would never let him go. She knew he was trying to avoid suspicion, but she still said, "I'll just say one thing, and then you can leave."
Li Cheng glanced at her and raised two fingers: "You've said a few words, I'm leaving."
It’s not that he is cruel. Everything has its cause and effect, so why bother holding on to it?
Seeing that he was in a hurry to leave, Yin Lifang hurried forward and prepared to talk behind closed doors.
…
Concubine Xu was leading Huiyin over. She was deliberately pretending to let Huiyin see Li Cheng and Yin Lifang having a tryst. She secretly said, "She pretends to be a saint, but she is actually a little slut."
Unexpectedly, as they approached, they heard a man and a woman arguing, and it was a very intense argument. Xu Cifei was dumbfounded.
When Huiyin heard the man's voice, she thought to herself that something was wrong. Li Cheng might have his old illness again, so she had to hurry over.